The Greatest Teams: 2000 Baltimore Ravens

Our series "The Greatest Teams" starts off with the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens franchise has only been in existence since 1996, so this was a pretty easy choice. The 2000 Baltimore Ravens not only won the franchise's first Super Bowl, but also boasted one of the most stifling defenses in NFL history. The offense wasn't exactly as stifling, but still respectable, even though they went through 5 consecutive games without scoring a touchdown.

The defense was led by defensive tackles Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa, both of whom consistently demanded the attention of opposing offensive linemen. This gave the stellar linebacking core of Jamie Sharper, Ray Lewis, and Peter Boulware the chance to make plays. Boulware and Lewis were particularly exceptional, with Sharper playing under the radar but still playing well. The secondary featured the impeccable safety Rod Woodson, with a featured duo of Chris McAlister and Duane Starks at cornerback. The defense soon instilled fear in opponents. After a Week 2 win against Jacksonville, 39-36, the defense only allowed opponents to score over 20 points just twice more that season.

The offense was led by quarterback Trent Dilfer, who replaced the inconsistent Tony Banks. Veteran runningback Priest Holmes and rookie runningback Jamal Lewis carried the load, while receiver Qadry Ismail and tight end Shannon Sharpe did most of the work through the air. The offensive line, anchored by left tackle Jonathan Ogden, did their job as well.

The 2000 Ravens, coached by Brian Billick, boasted a terrific defense and respectable offense that led the team to a berth in Super Bowl XXXV against the New York Giants. The Ravens won, 34-7, cementing their place in history and on this list as the best Baltimore Ravens team of all time.